Edward weston



(No Model.)

B. WESTON.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR..

Patented Jun e Z4, 1884.v

UNITE STATES ATENT @rrres.

EDWARD WESTON, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELEcTRio LIGHTING COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ELECTRIC R EGU LATO R.

Patent No. 301,028, dated June 24, 1884.

To 60% whom, it may concern: I

' Be it known that I, EDWARD WESTON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident ofNewarlgin the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Regulators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

My invention relates generally to that class of regulators in which a rheostat or variable resistance is operated through the instrumentality of one or more electro-magnets, the improvements comprised in said invention being i more especially applicable to those rheostats that are provided with a circular series of plates with which the brushes or springs of a revolving arm move in contact. Heretofore rheostats of this character have been operated usually by hand, or by some motive power the action or eifect of which is controlled by the varying attraction of an clectro-magnet, or by the resultant action of two opposed magnetic systems, such as electromagnetic motors.

The object of myinvention is mainly to 0perate the rheostat directly by a single magnet or magnetic system, and in such manner that the resistance interposedwill be at all times proportional to the current influencing the magnetic system. For this purpose I employ, in conjunction with a rheostat having a circular series of terminal plates, an armature capable of a certain degree of rotation,and mounted between magnets or magneticpoles, the contact-arm being fixed to the shaft of the arma-' ture, whereby a given movement of the latter causes a corresponding variation in the resistance in the circuit in which the rheostat is or may be included.

The invention, of which the chief elements are thus generally described, embraces other features of novelty, the nature of which will be indicated in the specification and summarized in the subjoincd claims.

In. the drawings, Figure 1 is a View spective of the devices comprising my invention. Fig. 2 is a part sectional view of the magnetic system Separate from theother parts.

Let A designate the circular series of terminal plates of any ordinary rheostat, which is to be operated by an electro-magnet. In prox- 45 in perimity to the rheostat is mounted, in a convenient manner, one or more permanent horseshoen1agnets,D,with pole-pieces 9, between which is mounted, on a shaft, F, a cylindrical armature, E, of the kind commonly employed 1n electrical generators and motors. One end of the shaft F has a bearing in a bracket, I-I, secured to the magnet D, the other in the support or base R in the center of the circular series of plates A. To the shaftF is secured the arm B,carrying brushes or Springs 0, that bear upon the plates A, and upon another part of the shaft is fixed a grooved wheel, a, around which passes a cord,K, connected with a spring, L, and adjusting-screw M. The core of the armature E is wound with a series of coils, N,

forming a closed circuit, from which loops are taken off to the segments of a commutator, 0. Upon the commutator press brushes G, connected with a circuit, 1?, by the current in which the rheost-at is to be operated.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: WVhen a current flows through the circuit I, 1t traverses the coils of the armature E, magnet- 7 izingits core,and imparting to it a rotary movement, which is, however, opposed and limited by the cord-K and spring L. This movement of the armature, and with it the arm B,varies to an extent proportional to its movementthe so resistance interposed by the rheostat, and so likewise any movement of the armature from a given position in either direction produces a corresponding variation in such resistance.

By using a cylindrical armature, an opposing-spring, and field-magnet constructed substantially as described, movements of the arm 13 practically proportional to the strength of the current passing in the circuit 1? are obtained, for the magnetism of the core varies in proportion to the current which passes through the coils upon it. The armature re mains always at the same distance from the poles of the field-magnet, and the strength of the latter remains nearly the same.

This apparatus is applicable to many purposes, though in practice I insert the rheostat in the derived circuit field of a dynamo-machine, of which the circuit 1? is the armaturecircuit, including also are lamps or like devices in series. This system of regulation has been explained by me in Patent No. 27 8,640.

The speeifie eharaeter ol' the elements eomprised in this apparatus may be varied in many ways. For exal'nple, the obvious substitution of an eleetroanagnet for the permanent magnet 1') may be made without materially affecting the results, though apermanent magnet would i beprelerahle. So,too,tl1e magnetiesystem may be permanently connected with or independent of the rheostat, and many other modifications of alike nature may he made without departure from the invention.

\Vithont, therefore, confining myself to the speeilic construction or arrangement of the ')arts herein described, what I. elaim as the Subject of this application is 1. The rcomtnnation, with a rheostat having a circular series of e01itaet-plates, of a magnet, a rotary armature, a spring for opposing its movement, and a eontact-arm connected with and operated by the armature, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a rheostat having a circular seriesol' emtaet-plates, a permanent magnet or magnets, a rotary arn'iature wound with coils, as described, amlmonntedbetween the poles of the magnet, a spring for oppossil're its movement, and a contact-arm. connected with and operated by the armature, as set forth.

In testimony whereof l. have herem lto Set my hand this 21st day of Deeemher, 1882;. 

